Trying to shop on a public holiday in Tenerife can be a bit hit and miss…
And 1st May (Labour Day) is one of those days where it really matters if you’ve planned ahead.
Supermarkets… Mostly Closed
Let’s keep it simple.
Mercadona is completely shut across Santa Cruz. Every single one.
So if you’re thinking of doing a proper shop… do it the day before.
HiperDino and SuperDino are slightly more forgiving.
Some stores stay open, but plenty close. The ones that do open:
- Parque Bulevar
- Ramblas
- Weyler
🕘 Open from 9:00 to 21:00
Handy… but limited.
Shopping Centres… Not Quite What You Expect
This catches people out every year.
Centro Comercial Meridiano is open… but only partly.
- Cinema, restaurants, cafés → open
- Shops → closed
El Corte Inglés → closed
Centro Comercial Nivaria → closed
So yes, you can go out… but you won’t be doing much actual shopping.
Pharmacies Still Running
This is where Spain does it right.
You’ll always find somewhere open if you need it.
- 24-hour pharmacies: Calle Horacio Nelson, Avenida Islas Canarias
- Others open until 21:30 – 22:00
So you’re covered if something comes up.
The Bottom Line
Public holidays here still mean something.
Shops close, things slow down… and the island takes a bit of a breather.
Which, honestly, isn’t a bad thing.
Just don’t leave your food shop until the last minute… you’ll regret it.